Register control mechanism for a webfed printing press



I i 9 E I I I l I l I I l I I I ,I (D I E I l I T l 1 June 4, 1963 w. B.RAYBUCK 3,092,022

REGISTER CONTROL MECHANISM FOR A WEB-FED PRINTING PRESS Filed Feb. 2,1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR WILLIAM B. RAYBUCK June 4, 1963 w. B.RAYBUCK 3,092,022

REGISTER CONTROL MECHANISM FOR A WEB-FED PRINTING PRESS Filed Feb. 2,1962 s Sheets-Sheet FIG. 2

NVENTOR I WILLIAM B. RAYBUCK B Y aw), [Ila 1011111, 777mm June 4, 1963W. B. RAYBUCK REGISTER Filed Feb. 2, 1962 CONTROL MECHANISM FOR AWEB-FED PRINTING PRESS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Qow INVENTOR WILLIAM B. RAYBUCKJune 4, 1963 w. B. RAYBUCK 3,092,022

REGISTER CONTROL MECHANISM FOR A WEB-FED PRINTING PRESS Filed Feb. 2,1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 NVENTOR 3] WILLIAM B. RAYB/UCK 'n/ioi [kM/mrh June4, 1963 w. B. RAYBUCK 3,092,022

REGISTER CONTROL MECHANISM FOR A WEB-FED PRINTING PRESS Filed Feb. 2,1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 us .03, m

H I08 el -mi Ii l I lO6-";: A: H 9 i I04 I I IOO INVENTOR WILLIAM B.RAYBUCK EYS 3,092,022 Patented June 4., 1963 ice 3,092,022 REGISTERCONTROL MECHANISM FOR A WEB- FED PRINTHNG PRESS William B. Raybuck,Lansdowne, Pa., assignor to Fredk H. Levey Company, Inc, New York, N.Y.,a corporation of New York Filed Feb. 2, 1962-, Ser. No. 170,688 Claims.(Cl. 101-248) The present invention relates to improvements in rotaryweb-fed printing presses of the offset type and, more particularly, toprinting presses of this general type comprising a plurality of printingunits, each adapted to perform a specific printing operation on the webor a ribbon cut therefrom.

Modern printing presses of this type may comprise a large number ofcooperating printing units arranged in series and extending over adistance of 100 feet or more. A roll of paper, constituting the web, maybe positioned at one end of the composite printing press. In passing toor through the press, the web may be cut into ribbons and these ribbonspassed through various printing units for printing the respectiveribbons or applying the desired ink colors thereto, and at the far endof the press the ribbons are assembled and passed to conventionalcutters, folders and the like to produce signatures ready for bindinginto a book or other printed publication.

Particularly in high-grade printing, these signatures passing from thefar end of the press are carefully inspected for imperfections inregister and for other possible defects. Because of the high-speedoperation of modern presses, any error detected with respect toregister, or otherwise, must be corrected immediately to avoid costlydiscards. Imperfect register may, of course, be circumferential orlongitudinal with respect to the plate cylinder and neither can betolerated in high-grade printed matter.

The present invention provides improvements in method and means wherebythe register of any one or more of the series of printing units may bequickly, and substantially automatically, corrected independently of anyother unit of the press by automatic controls, positioned either at thefar end of the composite press or at the respective units, oradvantageously at each of these positions. In accordance with thisinvention, I can instantly correct imperfections in register, eithercircumferential or longitudinal, by increments of a few of an inch inany one unit of the press, while the press is in normal operation andwithout in any way disturbing other units of the press.

The invention will be more fully described and illus trated withreference to the accompanying drawings which represent a highlyeffective embodiment of the invention. It will be understood, however,that the invention is not restricted to the specific details or to thespecific embodiment shown, but is limited only by the appended claims.

FIG. 1 of the drawings represents diagrammatically and conventionally,and somewhat fragmentarily, a side elevational view of one type ofmulti-unit press to which the present invention is especiallyapplicable,

FIG. 2 is a somewhat enlarged elevational view of a pneumatic orhydraulic control mechanism found especially desirable in conjunctionwith the other control mechanism of a single press unit,

FIGS. 30 and 3b, taken together, represent a developed section of asingle press unit along line 3a, b-3a, b of FIG. 2 showing in detail thedriving gears for the respective cylinders and means for effectingadjustment of register,

FIG. 4 is a further enlarged, more detailed view of the pawl and rachetarrangement shown in FIG. 2, and

FIG. 5 is a still further enlarged detailed view along the line 55 ofFIG. 4.

The basic principle of the invention is best explained by reference toFIGS. 3a and 3b of the drawing. Two plate cylinders are indicated at 1and 2, respectively, and two cooperating blanket cylinders are indicatedat '3 and 4, respectively. The web passes between the blanket cylindersso that a printed image is simultaneously applied to each side of theweb.

These cylinders are respectively mounted on coaxiallyextending shafts 5,6, 7 and 8 which, in turn, are rotatably supported by the press sideframes 9 and 10'. The unit is driven from line shaft 11 through beveledgears 12 and 13 keyed to the line shaft and beveled gears 14 and 15keyed to shafts 16 and 17, respectively.

Except for inconsequential changes for convenience in construction andcompactness, the mechanism for driving and adjusting the register ofcylinders 1 and 3 may be identical with that for cylinders 2 and 4, thelatter being shown in greater detail in the drawing, and particularreference will be made thereto.

Slidably keyed to shaft 17, and driven thereby, is a helical gear 18which cooperates with, and drives, helical gear 19 which is keyed toshaft 6. In turn, gear 19 cooperates with, and drives, the helical gear20 keyed to shaft 8.

Shaft 17 is rotatably supported by bearings 21 which, in turn, aresupported by housing 21' rigidly secured to the press frame. The gear 18is positioned about the lower portion of shaft 17 and is attached at itslower end, by means of flange plate 22 and machine screws 23 tocoaxially-extending shaft 24 which is rotatably supported by press frame9 through bearings 25 and bearing housing 26.

The bearings 21 are held in position by means of collar 27, sleeve 28and retaining ring 29, the latter being secured to the housing 21 bymeans of machine screws 30.

As previously noted, gear 18 is slidably keyed to shaft 17 as indicatedat 31 and a clearance is provided at 32 between the lower end of shaft17 and the flange plate 22 so that the helical gear 18 may be movedlongitudinally along the shaft 17.

The bearing housing 26 is mounted in the press sideframe 9 so that itcan slide longitudinally through the frame. The bearing 25 is held inposition by the retaining plate 33 secured to the lower end of shaft 24by means of machine screws 34.

At the lower end of bearing housing 26, there is posi tioned dishedmember 35 secured to the bearing housing by machine screws 36, andattached to member 35, as by welding, there is a coaxially-extendingshaft 37 in which there may be provided couplings 38' and 39, secured tothe shaft by any suitable means, for instance by bolts indicated at 40.

The lower end of shaft 37 passes through side-frame 10 and is theresupported by hearing 41 through which the shaft is free to slidelongitudinally.

That portion of shaft 37 extending outwardly beyond the press frame isfinely threaded, as indicated at 42, and about the threaded portion ofthe shaft, there is a cooperating internally-threaded spur gear 43secured against longitudinal movement by the housing 44 and bushing 45;.At the lower end of the shaft, there is an indicator arm 46, secured tothe shaft as by nut 47, and a scale 48, supported by bracket arm 49, isprovided for reading the position of the indicator. Just inside theframe, there is secured to shaft 37 a bracket 50 pinned to the frame at51 to secure shaft 37 against rotation.

Also, on the outside of the press frame and rotatably supported bybracket 44, there is provided a shaft 52 extending through bushings 53and secured to the inner end of the shaft there is spur gear 54 designedto cooper- 3 ate with spur gear 43 and to effect rotation of the latterin either direction as the shaft 52 is turned.

Also positioned on shaft 52 are two rachets 55 and 56 having their teethinclined in opposite directions and adapted to be rotated in oppositedirections by means of pawls indicated at 57 and 58, said pawls beingadapted to be automatically operated, as hereinafter more fullydescribed. The shaft '2 may also be rotated manually, when desired, bymeans of hand wheel 59.

For adjusting circumferential register in accordance with my presentinvention, shaft 52 is turned slightly in the appropriate directionthereby causing the internallythreaded spur gear 43 to rotateaccordingly about the cooperating threaded section 42, of shaft 37 andthus causing the shaft 37 to move longitudinally and effectcorresponding longitudinal movement of the helical gear 13.

Since gear 18 is keyed to drive shaft 17, it cannot rotate relativethereto, and consequently the longitudinal movement of the helical gear13 causes rotation of the cooperating helical gear 19, which is keyed toshaft 6, and thus causes circumferential movement of the plate cylinderin the appropriate direction to effect the desire correction incircumferential register.

The shaft 6 of plate cylinder 2 is rotatably supported by pressside-frame 9 by means of a bearing surface 6% positioned in bearinghousing 61 the latter being adapted to slide longitudinally through thepress frame. The upper portion of the bearing housing is closed bymember 62 secured to the main portion of the bearing housing by machinescrews 53.

The helical gear 19 fits over the end of shaft 5 extend ing outwardlybeyond side-frarne 9 which is provided with a sleeve 64 keyed to theshaft at 65 and which, in turn, is keyed to gear 19 at 66. The outerportion of the helical gear 19 assembly is closed by a cover plate 67secured thereto by machine bolts 68. This cover plate is provided with acoaxially-extending shaft 69 supported by bearings 7% which, in turn, issupported by housing 21 and is held in position by ring 71 secured tothe housing by machine bolt 72. The outer end of shaft 69 is threadedand is provided with a lock nut 73.

By this means, gear 1? is prevented from moving longitudinally. However,shaft i3 is free to move longitudinally with respect to the gear 19.

The other end of shaft 6 is rotatably supported by sideframe throughbearings 74 and bearing housing 753, the latter being adapted to slidelongitudinally through the press frame. The bearing is held in positionby means of retaining plate 76 secured to the end of shaft 6 by machinescrews 77.

Secured to the outer end of the bearing housing 75, as by machine screws78, is dished member 79 and finely threaded into the center of member79, as indicated at 89, is a coaxially-extending shaft 81 which isrotatably supported by housing 44 secured to the press frame, forinstance by machine bolts 82. The shaft 81 is secured againstlongitudinal movement by means of shoulder 83 and collar 84, the latterbeing secured to the bracket 44 as by means of machine screws 85.

Extending outwardly from member 79 through the housing 44 is anindicating rod 86 having an indicator arm '87 at its lower end adaptedto cooperate with scale 88 for indicating the relative longitudinalmovement 'of shaft 6.

Secured to shaft 81 are two rachets S9 and 9%} having their teethsloping in opposite directions, as previously indicated, and adapted tobe turned in the appropriate direction by means of pawls 91 and 92,respectively. These rachets, and also rachet 55 and 56, are keyed to therespective shafts as indicated at 93 and are held in position thereon bylock rings 94. Also, attached to the end of shaft '81, there is provideda hand wheel @5 by which shaft 81 may be manually turned if desired.

By the means described, longitudinal registry may be adjusted byrotation of shaft 81 in the appropriate direc- 4 tion, the threadedportion of the shaft causing the shaft 6 and the plate cylinder 2thereon to move longitudinally in the corresponding direction. By reasonof the desribed arrangement, whereby shaft 6 is free to slidelongitudinally through helical gear 19, the circumferential register ofplate cylinder 2 is not thereby disturbed.

The pitch of the threads at 42 and 89 is subject to considerablevariation depending upon the required fineness of adjustment. Similarly,the number of teeth in the respective raohets may be varied as desired.I have, with particular advantage, so coordinated the pitch of threads30 and the number of rachet teeth that the sidelay register, i.e.,longitudinal register, is adjusted in increments of 0.0017 inch perstroke of the pawl. Similarly, I have, with advantage, so coordinatedthe pitch of threads 42, the number of teeth in the raohcts and thepitch of the helical gears, that the circumferential register will beadjusted in increments of 0.0014 inch per stroke of the pawl.

An especially advantageous method and means for effecting adjustment ofregistry of the respective printing units by remote control will bedescribed and illustrated with reference to FiGS. 2, 3 and 4 of thedrawings.

The previously described pawls may, with advantage, be actuated byremotely-controlled pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders or solenoids. Inthe illustrative appanatus, each pawl is provided with a cylinder 96having a rear end cap *97 and a forward end cap 98. Coaxially extendingthrough the forward end cap there is a plunger 99 which is actuated by afluid under pressure, which is introduced into the cylinder by way ofrear end cap 97 through conduit 1% to force the plunger forward orthrough conduit 131 and forward end cap 98 into the cylinder to retractthe plunger.

The fluid under pressure is supplied to the respective conduits from anyconvenient source and its how to the respective conduits maybecontrolled, from a point more or less remote from the cylinder, by meansof valves of conventional type and operated conventionally, for instanceby means of push buttons indicated at 102. Normally, pressure will bemaintained in the cylinder ahead of the plunger-packing so as tomaintain the plunger in the netnacted position. At will, by pressing thepush buttons 102, pressure in the forward end of the cylinder isreleased and pressure is applied to the rear end of the cylinder toforce the plunger forward.

As more clearly shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings, the plungerextends outwardly from the forward end of the cylinder into the pawlhousing 103 within which there is positioned a pawl block 104 threadedonto the forward end of plunger 9d and loclced thereon by means of bolt1%.

The pawl 91 is pivotally supponted by the pawl block at 1&6, andpivotally connected to the upper portion of the pawl at 107 is a tensionrod 108 extending through the pawl block and urged forward by means ofspring 109.

A projection 11% of the pawl, at its lower side, is brought to bear upona shoulder 111 of the housing as the plunger 99 is retracted so as tolift the pawl out of contact with the rachet. When the plunger 99 isforced forward, and the pressure on the shoulder 111 thereby released,the pawl is forced downwardly into contact with the rachet teeth bymeans of the spring 109 and rod 1%.

As more clearly shown in FIG. 5, tension on the spring 109 may beadjusted by means of bushing 112 which is threaded into the pawl block1&4. The entire cylinder and pawl assembly may be secured to anysuitable rigid panel, such as indicated at 113, as by means of machinescrews 114 and the lower portion of the pawl housing, comprising theshoulder 111, may be secured to the forward end cap of the cylinder bymeans of machine screws 1 15.

The mechanism for operating pawl 92 and the other pawls of the systemmay be substantially the same as that described and need not again bedescribed herein.

It will be understood that by actuating pawl 91, shaft 81 will berotated in a counterclockwise direction through an angle subtended byone tooth of the raohet 89 and that by actuating pawl 92, shaft 81 willbe rotated through a like angle in the clockwise direction. Similarly,shaft 52 may be rotated counterclockwise or clockwise by actuating pawls57 or 58, respectively.

According to a preferred aspect of this invention, the controls 102 foractuating the respective pawls are positioned on l8. panel 118conveniently located at the delivery end of the series of printingunits, where the signatures are inspected, so that any defects inregister of any one or more printing units may be immediately remediedin small increments by the inspector, through remote control andactuation of the appropriate pawl or pawls, until perfect register isobtained.

Frequently, it is desirable also to have control buttons on therespective printing units such as indicated on FIG. 1 of the drawings.Further, in setting up the press, it is frequently desirable to providemeans such as hand wheels 95 for adjusting the register manually.

As shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1 and as previously described herein,a multiplicity of the press units, as indicated at 116 are arrangedserially and a Web or ribbon of paper, as indicated at 117, is passedthrough each press unit between the cooperating blanket cylinders 3 and4, the printed ribbons being assembled, cut and folded at the far end ofthe press to form the signatures for binding.

Again referring to FIGS. 3m and 3b of the drawings, the shafts 7 and 8of blanket cylinders 3 and 4 are similarly rotatably supported, inconventional manner, by the press side frarne through bearings indicatedat 119 and 120 held in position by retaining rings 12 1 and retainingplates *122.

In view of the foregoing description, it will be apparent that manymodifications of the structure and arrangement of the various elementsdescribed are possible and it will be understood that the invention isnot restricted to the specific details and construction shown.

I claim:

1. A web-fed rotary printing press unit for ofiest printing comprising:

(a) at least one plate cylinder and cooperating blanket cylindersupported on coaxially-extending parallel shafts rotatably supported byside-frames of the press unit,

(b) cooperating spiral gears keyed to the respective shafts and securedagainst longitudinal movement with respect to the side-frames,

(c) a drive shaft parallel to said supporting shaft,

(d) a spiral gear slidably keyed to said drive shaft and adapted tocooperate with, and drive, the spiral gear on the plate cylinder shaft,

(e) the shaft of the plate cylinder being adapted to be movedlongitudinally with respect to the side-frames and the gear keyedthereto,

(1) automatic means adapted to move the drive shaft spiral gearlongitudinally in small increments of predetermined magnitude along thedrive shaft and thereby effecting rotation of the spiral gear keyed tothe plate cylinder shaft to effect circumferential register adjustment,and

(g) automatic means for moving the plate cylinder shaft longitudinallyin small increments of predetermined magnitude to eiiect longitudinalregister adjustment.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that the automaticmeans (g) Comprises a threaded shaft and a cooperating threadedcoupling, the shaft being secured against longitudinal movement, andautomatic means for effecting rotation of said shaft in either directionto effect longitudinal movement of the plate cylinder shaft.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that the automaticmeans (1) comprises a threaded control shaft secured against rotationand a cooperating threaded member secured against longitudinal movementand automatic means for eflecting rotation of said threaded member ineither direction to move the drive shaft helical gear longitudinallywith respect to the drive shaft.

4. A printing press comprising a multiplicity of serially-arrangedprinting units, as defined by claim 1, each printing unit comprisingrespectively two blanket cylinders arranged to operate in rollingcontact, means for passing a web between the blanket cylinders, a platecylinder cooperating with each of the blanket cylinders and adapted toapply the image thereto and means for applying ink to the respectiveplate cylinders and in which the automatic means for effecting registeradjustment are remotely controlled from the delivery end of the press.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that the automaticmeans for effecting circumferential register adjustment and foreffecting longitudinal register adjustment comprise, respectively, tworachets having their teeth sloping in opposite directions and eachprovided with a cooperating pawl, each pawl being provided withpropulsion means for actuating the pawl and thereby turning thecooperating rachet through a predetermined increment, said rachetpropulsion means being adapted to automatic remote control.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,030,028 Greenwood Feb. 4, 1936 2,256,801 Barber Sept. 23, 19412,830,537 Iacoby et a1. Apr. 15, 1958

1. A WEB-FED ROTARY PRINTING PRESS UNIT FOR OFFSET PRINTING COMPRISING:(A) AT LEAST ONE PLATE CYLINDER AND COOPERATING BLANKET CYLINDERSUPPORTED ON COAXIALLY-EXTENDING PARALLEL SHAFTS ROTATABLY SUPPORTED BYSIDE-FRAMES OF THE PRESS UNITS, (B) COOPERATING SPIRAL GEARS KEYED TOTHE RESPECTIVE SHAFTS AND SECURED AGAINST LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT WITHRESPECT TO THE SIDE-FRAMES, (C) A DRIVE SHAFT PARALLEL TO SAIDSUPPORTING SHAFT, (D) A SPIRAL GEAR SLIDABLY KEYED TO SAID DRIVE SHAFTAND ADAPTED TO COOPERATE WITH, AND DRIVE, THE SPIRAL GEAR ON THE PLATECYLINDER SHAFT, (E) THE SHAFT OF THE PLATE CYLINDER BEING ADAPTED TO BEMOVED LONGITUDINALLY WITH RESPECT TO THE SIDE-FRAMES AND THE GEAR KEYEDTHERETO, (F) AUTOMATIC MEANS ADAPTED TO MOVE THE DRIVE SHAFT SPIRAL GEARLONGITUDINALLY IN SMALL INCREMENTS OF PREDETERMINED MAGNITUDE ALONG THEDRIVE SHAFT AND THEREBY EFFECTING ROTATION OF THE SPIRAL GEAR KEYED TOTHE PLATE CYLINDER SHAFT TO EFFECT CIRCUMFERENTIAL REGISTER ADJUSTMENT,AND (G) AUTOMATIC MEANS FOR MOVING THE PLATE CYLINDER SHAFTLONGITUDINALLY IN SMALL INCREMENTS OF PREDETERMINED MAGNITUDE TO EFFECTLONGITUDINAL REGISTER ADJUSTMENT.